Rockable and springable chair of the reclining deck or lawn type



W. C. MARTIN ROCKABLE AND SPRINGABLE CHAIR OF THE RECLINING DECK OR LAWN TYPE April 13, 1954 3 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1951 INVENTOR.

W0/// C Mar/172 WM 6m ATTORNEK MARTIN 2,675,059 PRINGABLE CHAIR OF DECK OR LAWN TYPE W. C ROCKABLE AND S THE RECLINING April 13, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1951 INVENTOR.

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W. C. MARTIN ROCKABLEAND SPRINGABLE CHAIR OF THE RECLINING DECK OR LAWN TYPE April 13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 19, 1951 Run M 0/ mmpmm M C a W H M WY Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROCKABLE AND SPRINGABLE CHAIR OF THE RECLINING DECK OR LAWN TYPE Claims. 1

This invention relates to rockable and springable chair of the reclining deck or lawn type.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a novel form of reclining chair of the deck or lawn type which is selectively adjustable in its parts between a fixed pivotally connected position to provide rocking support and an extended reclining position in which part of the weight of the occupant is spring supported to give a yielding as well as a rocking support.

Second, to provide novel means. for incorporating and mounting a spring connection between relatively movable parts of a tubular metal chair framework.

Third, to provide a novel arrangement of selectively operable catch or lock means for adjusting a lawn chair between an erect position and a. reclining spring supported position.

Fourth, to provide a novel and adjustable -foot rest for a lawn chair which automatically adjusts in height when adjusted for length.

Fifth, to provide a novel connection for the fabric seat and back of a lawn chair to the framework of the chair which permits the length of the fabric to be easily and quickly adjusted to accommodate persons of different size.

Sixth, to provide a tubular metal framework for an adjustabl lawn chair which is light and attractive and very durable.

Seventh, to provide a divided and spring biased connecting link between the seat and back frames of a lawn chair which link automatically folds along side of the frames of the chair when the chair is folded.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from consideration of the description and the claims.

The drawings, of which there are 2 sheets, illustrate a preferred form of my chair.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of my chair in erect rigid but rocking position.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, of the chair.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional 'view through the arm rest and extensible arm frame structure taken along 'the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view through the extensible arm frame structure taken along the plane of the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the chair in extended spring supported position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view partially in cross section illustrating the adjustment of the foot rest of the chair.

As is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the principal supporting elements of my chair include a generally rectangular upwardly and rearwardly inclined back frame loop I of tubular metal and a generally rectangular downwardly and rearwardly inclined seat frame 2 also of tubular metal. The back frame 1 is slightly narrower than the seat frame 2 so as to pass freely through the seat frame. The back frame includes an upper cross piece 3 and a lower cross piece 4 which forms a forward supporting foot for the chair. The seat frame 2 includes a front cross piece 5 and a rear cross piece: 5 which forms a rear supporting foot for the chair. Desirably the seat frame 2 is provided with a generally horizontal front side portion I before being bent downwlardly to the rear of the chair.

The back frame I and seat frame 2 are connected at their lower ends by the two piece pivoted tension links 8 and 9 which limit the separation of the feet portions 4 and 6. It will be understood that duplicate links 8 and 9 are provided on each side of the chair. Desirably a coil spring is positioned around each of the pivots H] which connect the links 8 and 9 and the ends of th springs are turned out and hooked over the edges of the links as at H so that the pivot l0 folds or moves upwardly automatically when the chair frame is folded.

The back frame I and seat frame 2 are furtherinterconnected by an extensible arm structure which includes a tubular arm frame i2 having its forward end pivotally connected at I3 to the forward horizontal portion 1 of the seat frame. It will be understood that the arm structure is duplicated on each side: of the chair. Telescopically mounted within the arm frame I2 and extensible from the rear end thereof is an arm extension rod [4 which is pivotally connected at its rear end to the intermediate portion of the sides of the back frame I as by bolts 15. An arm rest board or panel It is. fixedly secured to the arm frame l2 by bolts I1 and the forward bolt ll forms an anchor for a coil spring I'Bpositioned telescopically within the arm. frame l2 and arm extension rod i l. The rear end of the spring I8 is anchored to the pivot pin or bolt l5 which connects the back frame I to the arm extension rod M.

A loosely looped strip of heavy canvas or other fabric I9 is connected between the upper cross piece 3 of the back frame and the front cross piece 5 of the seat frame and forms a combined seat and back for the chair. The arm rest extension rod I4 is selectively restrained against extension from the arm rest frame 12 by a locking lever recessed in the upper surface of the arm rest panel [B and pivotally mounted therein as at 2| (see Figs. 2 and 3). The lever 20 has a downturned rear end 22 projecting through the arm rest panel to engage the rear end of the extension rod l4 and hold the rod retracted. The lever 20 is biased to locking position by a spring 23 positioned in the bottom of the slot which receives the lever.

With the arm rest extension rod I4 in locked retracted position as shown in Fig. 1 the chair will rock about the pivots l3 and IS in the manner indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. Should it be desired to more or less permanently lock the chair in this ro'cking position, the arm rest panels l6 are provided with laterally opening holes 24 (see Fig. 3) through which short pieces of wire or other stops may be passed to prevent accidental actuation of the levers 2!) and movement of the stops 22 out of locking engagement with the extension rods 14.

When the forward ends of the levers 20 are depressed, releasing the extension rods M, the occupant of the chair may throw his weight backward, causing the extension rods M to extend rearwardly as is illustrated in Fig. 5. The back frame l and the fabric strip 19 assume a more horizontal reclining position and the weight of the occupant is partially supported by tension in the springs [8. It will be noted that the arm rest panel [6 is elongated rearwardly behind the erected position of the back :frame I so that a continuous arm rest is provided in either the erected or reclining position of the chair. A bolt or projection 25 on the under side of the rear end of the arm rest panel forms a safety stop engageable with the rear end of the extension rod 54 to prevent complete collapse of the chair, should the springs 18 break.

The chair is provided with a forwardly projecting U-shaped frame 2% of tubular construction which forms a foot rest for the occupant. The foot rest frame is provided with a suitable auxiliary cross bar 21 for supporting the feet in alternate positions and the \foot rest is made adjustable in both length and height by providing inner mounting arms 28 which are pivotally connected to the back frame at 29 and which are telescopically received within the ends of the U-shaped frame 25. A cross bar 30 fixedly mounted on the back frame I below the pivots 29 serves to support the foot rest. With particular attention to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be noted that when the foot rest frame 26 is retracted inwardly on the arms 22 the frame 25 will directly engage the cross bar 30 and hold the foot rest in relatively elevated position. However when the frame 25 is drawn upwardly beyond the cross bar 36 the arms 28 will swing downwardly a distance equal to the thickness of the wall of the frame 26, thus permitting the outer end of the foot rest to swing downwardly a substantially greater distance. Thus the foot rest automatically lowers when it is lengthened and raises when it is shortened.

In order to further make the chair adjustable for persons of different size the ends of the fabric seat H! are adjustably secured to the cross pieces 3 and 5 by a construction which is shown in detail in Fig. 7. The cross pieces are trans versely bored as at 3| to receive the ends of U-shaped lock rods 32. The ends of the fabric I9 are provided with loops 33, permanently secured to and fitted over the lock rods 32 so that the end of the fabric strip may be wrapped one or more times around a cross bar as indicated at 34 with the lock rod positioned on the inside of the coil of fabric thus formed. Obviously wrapping the fabric around the cross bar will shorten the length of the seat and back portion of the fabric to accommodate persons of shorter stature. When the fabric strip is adjusted to the proper length the ends of the lock rod are inserted into the bores 31 and the seat fabric is eifectively locked in position. To lengthen the seat fabric for a taller person it is only necessary to loosen the coil of fabric around one or both of the cross pieces sufficiently to permit withdrawal of the lock rods and unrolling of the fabric the desired amount.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable chair of the reclining type comprising, a rectangular back frame, a rectangular seat frame disposed in crossed relation to said back frame, arm rods pivotaily connected to the forward portions of the sides of said seat frame, extension rods telescopically slida ble with respect to and extensible (from the rear of said arm rods, means pivotally connecting the rear of said extension rods to an intermediate portion of the sides of said back frame, arm rest panels bolted to the tops of said arm rods and extending rearwardly to said back frame, coil springs engageable between the said extension rods and said arm rods, lugs on said arm panels lockingly and releasably engaged with said extension rods to prevent extension thereof, a flexible sheet extending between the front cross member of said seat frame and the rear cross member of said back frame to constitute a combined seat and back, and folding tension links pivotally connected between the lower ends of said seat and back frames.

2. In an adjustable chair of the reclining type, a rectangular back frame of tubular metal and a rectangular seat frame of tubular metal arranged in two planes intersecting at an angle intermediate the ends of the frames, arms connecting the front of said seat frame to the sides of said back frame and above said seat frame compris-v ing, telescopically arranged arm rods and ex-' tension rods having their opposite ends pivotally connected to said seat and back frames, arm rest panels secured to the tops of one rod of each arm and extending over the other rod of the arm, coil springs telescoped within and anchored between the rods of each arm to oppose the extension thereof, locking levers pivotally mounted on said arm panels and recessed therein, lugs on said levers lockingly and releasably engaged with said other rod of each arm to prevent extension thereof, a flexible sheet extending between the front cross member of said seat frame and the rear cross member of said back frame to constitute a combined seat and back, and folding tension links pivotally connected between the lower ends of said seat and back frames.

3. In an adjustable chair of the reclining type, a rectangular back frame and a rectangular seat frame arranged in two planes intersecting at an angle intermediate the ends of the frames, arms connecting the front of said seat frame to the sides of said back frame and above said seat frame comprising, telescopically arranged arm rods and extension rods having their opposite ends pivotally connected to said seat and back frame, arm rest panels on the tons of onerod of eacharm and extending over the other rod of the arm, coil springs telescoped within and anchored between the rods of each arm to oppose the extension thereof, locking levers pivotally mounted on said arms, lugs on said levers lockingly and releasably engaged between the rods of each arm to prevent extension thereof, a flexible sheet extending between the front cross member of said seat frame the rear cross member of said back frame to constitute a combined seat and back, and folding tension links pivotally connected between the lower ends of said seat and back frames.

4. In an adjustable chair of the reclining type, a rectangular back frame and a rectangular seat frame arranged in two planes intersecting at an angle intermediate of the ends of the frames, extensible arms of telescopic tubular construction pivotally connected between the forward portions of the sides of said seat frame and intermediate portions of the sides of said back frame, arm rest panels secured to the tops of said arms, coil a rectangular back frame and a rectangular seat frame arranged in two planes intersecting at an angle intermediate of the ends of the frames, extensible arms of telescopic tubular construction pivotally connected between the forward portions of the sides of said seat frames and intermediate positions on the sides of said back frame, coil springs in said arms and opposing extension thereof, locking levers pivotally carried by said arms, lugs on said levers lockingly and releasably engaged between the parts of said extensible arms to prevent extension thereof, and a flexible sheet extending between the front cross member of said seat frame and the rear cross member of said back frame to constitute a combined seat and; back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 604,212 Palmer May 17, 1898 741,692 Mundy Oct. 20, 1903 1,236,401 Browne Aug. 14, 1917 1,506,464 Alton Aug. 26, 1924 1,539,225 West May 26, 1925 1,694,933 Walker Dec. 11, 1928 2,046,644 Martin July '7, 1936 2,567,341 Martin Sept. 11, 1951 

